To manage my scripts' configurations, I have a text file w/ a variable in each line (15-18 variables) and then a script that assigns each line to a variable (eg. $name = $line[3]

At the moment it works fine but I'm concerned about its efficiency and loading time. The script which opens the config file and sets the variables is exectuted VERY VERY often and I'd hate to see it slow down the very scripts that rely on it. Do you know of any faster, more efficient ways to create/manage script configurations? Thanks in advance

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I need a type of config file w/ variables that can be edited by the script itself. Thats why I use variables in each line of a text file. Its easy for the script to modify it.

Why would modifying a perl script be any more difficult than modifying any other text file? The only thing I'd worry about is trying to require the file while overwritting it, but that's what flock is for.